Traffic signal and flume guard



Dec. 30, 194.1.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND FLUME GUARD Filed July 10,- 1940 I l L z MEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENroRs AT'roRNEYs Dec. 30, 1941.

A. G. HAAS ETAL TRAFFIC SIGNAL AND FLUME GUARD Filed July 1o, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTOR N EYS Patented Dec. 30, 1941 Unirse srgrfss garant ortica l c s 2,267,860' c `TRAFFC SIGNAL FLUME -GUARD AlbertfG. Haas and Clayton A. Hopkins, Colo, Iowa ApplcationJuly 10, 1940, Serial No. 344.808

' riclaim... (ciiicfi'isy The present invention relates to `an improved traffic signal andume guard.

An important object of the invention resides in the provision o'f a trafic signal and ume guard that is readily visible to trafIic approaching the fiume from either direction thereby avoiding the Apossibility of accidents caused by vehicles running into the same.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a device o the above character, the construction of which permits the advantageous use "of a snow -plow or the like for clearing the roads after a snow storm. At the present time flumes represent a certain hazard; particularly when clearing the road after a snow storm, since it is a tendency of the snow plow to push the snowl around the flume leaving relatively large banks of snow and oftentimes blocking traic. The construction of the present invention is such that the wing of the snow plow can be lifted a slight degree and passed over the flume guard on a low arch and the signal arm, being pivotally attached to the ume, is urged into a recess within the flume guard permitting passage of vthawing thereover. This will materially prevent the congesting of traffic along the highway as the snow is being removed as well as allowing for the removal of surplus snow which, at Vthe present time, banks, around the flume. c

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement ofthe several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyng drawings and specifically pointed out'in the appended claim.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is atop plan View illustrating the invention in use along a highway.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantiallyon lineZ-Z of `Figure 1.

Figure 3l is a sectional view with parts in elevation taken substantially on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional View taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure'3.

Figure 5 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the flume guards.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of the flume guard shown in Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description thereof, a roadway is generally designated by the reference numeral 8 and on each sidel thereof is aflume 9 for the passage of water flowing down the roadway in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 1. It is customary to provide a protecting rail on eachside f' of the roadway above the flume and, in accordance with the present invention, the'guard employed is of the vtype, best shown in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings, the same being generally designated by the reference numeral I0. Anchoring posts II and I2 are embedded within the ground on each side of the flume to which is attached the arched guard rail I3. It is to be understood that a guard rail I3 is to be disposed on each-side of the roadway above the fiume and that the construction of each rail and support is identical. The posts Il and I2 are preferably formed ofY cement and have projecting vertically therefrom pins I4, the ends ofthe vguard I3 -being slotted as indicated at I5 for positioning over the pins I4. The pins I4 are formed with a longitudinal opening through which is disposed a key I6 after the arch I3 has been brought into position. The arch I3 can be formed of any desired material and the provision of the pins I4 and key I6 allows for a rapid interchanging of the parts when occasion demands. The shape and form of the guard rail I3 is such as tov preclude the possibility of vehicles travelling in either direction being forced into the flume 9.

A further feature of the invention provides for supporting a signalling element I1 on each of the guard rails, the same being' mounted substantially centrally thereof as clearly shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. The signalling element 'is placed on the guard rail so as to be readily visible to traffic approaching the flume from either direction. As more particularly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the signalling element includesY a housing I8, said housing being formed of a pair of complementary sections I9 and 2i), respectively, attached tothe outer face of the guard rail I3. l

The means of attaching the housing I8 to the outer face of the guard rail I3 comprises a bracket 2| secured by means of bolts or othervfasteners 22, said bracket depending below the -guard rail whereby the section 20 can be secured thereto by means of bolts or the like 23. A similar bracket 24 is held by means of fasteners 25 on the opposite face of the guard rail, the bracket 24 forming a journal for the shaft 26 projecting from the housing I8. The sections I9 and 20 are of semi-spherical formation, the

section I9 being formed with an internal groove 2'I which receives an arm 28 adapted to be guided therein. The arm 28 is xedly secured as indicated at 29 to the shaft 26, said shaft extending through the section 20, bracket 2| beneath the guard rail I3, and journalled in the bracket 24. The section 20 is also formed with a circumferential groove 30 in which are mounted coil springs 3| and 32, respectively. One end of the coil springs bears against a member 33 extending radially of the groove and the other end of said coil springs is in engagement with a portion 34 integral with and projecting at right angles to the arm 28, said portion extending Within the groove 30.

The guard rail I3 has a slot 35 formed therein, said slot extending longitudinally of the guard rail to a point substantially beyond each side of the flume. The slot 35 confines a signalling arm 36, saidarm being fxedly secured by means 3l to the shaft 26 so as to be rotatable therewith. The arm 36 projects a distance above the guard rail I3 and is formed with vertically extending grooves 31' on opposed sides thereof which form a `housing for the refleeting elements 38. The reflecting elements 38 are of colored glass and are attached to the arm 36 by means of male and female fastening elements 39, said elements being confined within the groove to prevent injury thereto when the signalling arm is contacted by the wing of a snow plow or the like.

Each section I9 and 20 is formed with' radially projecting ears 4U adapted to be disposed in aligned relation when assembling the housing with a bolt and nut 4I extending therethrough for uniting the sections. It will thus be seen that the housing I8 including the sections I9 and 20 is xedly secured to the guard rail I3 and that the shaft 23 carrying the arms 28 and 36, respectively, rotates within the brackets 2I and 24.

As above indicated,` a guard rail I3 and its supported signalling element I8 will be disposed on each side of the roadway .above the flume. A road plow clearing the roadway after a heavy snow storm, when approaching'the ilume guards, will be able to travel between the guards since the wing of the plow can be raised a slight degree sufcient to contact the arched guard rail. As the plow travels along the roadway between the flume guards, the wing of the plow will follow the path of travel of the guard rail until contact is made with the signalling arm 36 at which time the' arm will be swung downwardly within the slot 35. As the arm swings downwardly, the shaft 26 will be caused to travel carrying with it the arm 28 which arm will move against the tension of one of the springs 3I or 32', depending upon the direction in which the arm 36 is moving. As soon as the wing of the plow has passed over the guard rail, the tension of the spring 3I will force the arm 28 to its normal position carrying with it the arm or dropping into the fiume.

azeseo 36. As the arm 28 is moved to its normal position by the tension of, for example, the spring 3|, said arm will contact the other spring 32, the latter spring acting as a shock absorber.

From the above description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent that the present invention provides for a ume guard and signalling element which materially aids in preventing accidents along the roadway. 'I'he shape of the guard rails Will permit maintaining the highways, particularly around the umes, in a. clean condition. The signalling element is readily visible to traffic approaching the ume in either direction thereby precluding the possibilities of vehicles running into the guard rail The entire device is simple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be comprehended within the spirit ofthe present invention and that'the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit `of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claim. n y

What is claimed is:

A combined fiume guard and traic signal comprising, a guard rail of arched formation and means for removably attaching the same on the side of a roadway and above a ume, said guard rail being formed with a longitudinally extending recess, a normally vertical signalling arm and means yfor mounting the same on said guard rail, said means including a housing formed of complementary sections, one section being formed with a recess for permitting the travel of an arm swingable therein, the other section being formed with a groove for confining a pair of coil springssaid swingable arm having an extension positioned intermediate adjacent ends of said coil springs the other ends thereof bearing on fixed abutment means, a shaft extending through said housing and pivotally attached beneath said guard rail, said swingable arm being xedly mounted on one end of said shaft and said shaft having a signalling arm attached to its other end formed and arranged whereby said signalling arm will be forced into said recess when contacted by the wing of a snow plow or the like travelling over said roadway against the tension of one of said springs and the other of said springs acting as a shock absorber upon the return of the signalling arm to vertical position.

ALBERT G. HAAS. j" CLAYTON A. HOPKINS. 

